As a nation state, Italy has emerged only in 1871. Until then the country was politically divided into a large number of independant cities, provinces and islands. The currently available evidences point out to a dominant Etruscan, Greek and Roman cultural influence on today's Italians.

As we all prepare for Christmas, many of you are doing the traditional Christmas baking.

I am trying to trace the history of "tadols". Don't even know if that's remotely the correct spelling - but you all know them - those Italian Wedding Cookies, round, like a large marble. Many varieties.

They have a long history, both in Italia, and Central Europe. Many non-Italians call them Mexican Wedding cookies, some call them Russian Tea Cakes.

PeterTimber wrote:Joe I need the regional dialect that Tadol emanates from so that I can consult the dialect dictionary. =Peter=

Peter - Afraid I don't know! We don't even know for sure it's Italian (unless it's a contraction from Dolce).

Our family is from Lauro and Auletta, in the shadow of Vesuvio. But this tradition is widely spread, and not just in Italy. Everywhere from Russia to Sweden to Mexico.

Indeed, there are articles on the Italian Wedding Cookie Tradition on the web.

Only Italians seem to use the name Tadols, though, and strangely - mainly ones I have heard from from New Jersey, New York, and Ontario! Russians call them Tea Cakes, Mexicans call them Wedding Cookies, other names in Scandanavia.

Of course those Italian and Sicilian fishermen wintered up north when they had to!

I think these have been "family" recipes for only two generations (and here in Canada) but were acquired from other Paisanos in the area. Niagara Region has Italians from every part of Italy!

The first recipe I posted was for Taralli (tadal) from Campania, which is a savory ring made with pepper, first boiled and then baked.
But Joe is giving that same name to cookies my family call knots. Joe's family makes them as a ball instead of a knot. We are trying to find out the Italian name for these cookies.

I took a quick look and soon realized its not a NY thing you normally buy in a local Pasticceria. We already did our xmas shopping for the eve soI will have to make a stop as soon as I pass one....if there is a spot open to park since between now and the eve all the fish stores, salumerias and pasticcerias are jammed from early AM to late at night. ==Peter=